I am trying to add a second wireless router to my network to help boost the coverage of my wifi to the bottle level of my house (the Orcon Genius router I have is on the top 3rd floor).

The issue I am experiencing is that wifi on the second router is up and down all the time therefore a stable connection is impossible. It is cabled in via ethernet from the Orcon on the third floor. I also have an Xbox 360 in the same place as the second router (attached via cable) which acts as a media center extender, and I have zero problems with this connection so the wired connection from upstairs is solid.

The only thing I couldn't do was the part in step 5 which said "go to Setup – > Advanced routing and change the current mode from Gateway to Router", as I could not find this setting on the Netgear. Maybe this is the reason the wifi on it is flaky? I just don't know enough to determine this.

Could there be anything obvious I've missed? Does this sound like a common issue?

The Netgear router you mentioned is a Modem/Router 2-in-1, and I'm pretty sure step 5 is trying to tell you to change the modem/router to only use the router function. Maybe someone else here can confirm how to do that on this specific device?

You got the wrong gear for what you're trying to do. You need a device that can become an access point but this device doesn't seem capable. You can try setting it as if your setting up a cable connection using the WAN Ethernet port but you'll have a double NAT which is not good for gaming or applications that dont like it.

You're other option is WDS which is repeating your wireless signal but it has 2 downsides: 1) your device must be in range of your primary wireless signal 2) your maximum speed will always be half the theoretical maximum speed of your primary wireless or the devices wireless, whichever is slower.

Do you know for a fact that my model of modem/router cannot be used as an access point? I've been down the wifi repeater route already and it isn't sufficient.

Hi sbiddle,

Understand the access point requirement now, thanks. The instructions I linked to said to use the same SSID name, encryption type and key, and same channel for seamless transition. Could it simply be that because I have used the exact same channel as my Orcon Genius?

Do you know for a fact that my model of modem/router cannot be used as an access point? I've been down the wifi repeater route already and it isn't sufficient.

Hi sbiddle,

Understand the access point requirement now, thanks. The instructions I linked to said to use the same SSID name, encryption type and key, and same channel for seamless transition. Could it simply be that because I have used the exact same channel as my Orcon Genius?

I don't know for a fact, but that is the logical conclusion since Netgear usually sell products advertised with Access Point capability. Also I took a read through the manual and there was no mention of it anywhere.I am 99.9% certain that your device does not support Access Point mode at its stock state.

Satch: [snip] The instructions I linked to said to use the same SSID name, encryption type and key, and same channel for seamless transition. Could it simply be that because I have used the exact same channel as my Orcon Genius?